Lummis, GOP Colleagues Lead Charge Against California Air Resources Board to Protect Consumer Choice

Home About About Cynthia Committee Assignments Media Press Releases Press Contact Videos Services Visiting D.C. Federal Funding Opportunities Internships Congressional Award Academy Nominations Flag Requests Issues All Wyoming, All the Time Energy & Natural Resources Agriculture Financial Innovation & Digital Assets Transportation & Infrastructure National Security & Veterans Healthcare Senate Western Caucus Legislation Sponsored Legislation Co-Sponsored Legislation Voting Record Newsletter Signup Contact Me Contact Form Scheduling Requests Press Contact Blow the Whistle Follow Follow Follow Lummis, GOP Colleagues Lead Charge Against California Air Resources Board to Protect Consumer Choice August 6, 2026 Washington D.C. — U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Jon Husted (R-OH) today introduced four joint resolutions under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), each disapproving a separate Environmental Protection Agency waiver that has allowed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to impose its regulatory agenda far beyond California’s borders. Together, the four resolutions target CARB’s small off-road engine (SORE) mandate, the Advanced Clean Cars I program, the 2013 Advanced Clean Car Program waiver, and the 2009 waiver that first allowed California to regulate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. “California’s climate zealots have run roughshod over the rest of the country for too long,” said Senator Lummis. “Under Governor Newsom, Sacramento has decided it can dictate what Wyoming families drive and what equipment our small businesses use. That ends today. I’m proud to lead this fight to reclaim Congress’s authority and stop California from legislating for the entire nation.” “California’s burdensome emissions requirements continue to punish American manufacturers, reduce consumer choice, and raise prices for American families,” said Senator Schmitt. “One state should not have the power to set national policy and dictate what products Americans use far beyond its borders. Overturning these climate alarmist rules will not only restore common sense, but also prevent a future administration from attempting to grant similar waivers. I’m proud to lead the Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the EPA-California State Motor Vehicle Control Standards Waiver and join Senators Ricketts, Husted, and Lummis in our effort to help make life more affordable for American families.” “Biden’s overregulation and red tape regime cost Nebraskans millions of dollars,” said Senator Ricketts. “They used California policies as a backdoor EV mandate and even tried to control how we cut our grass. I am proud to lead the effort to overturn these restrictions and restore commonsense.  I will continue to fight for policies that empower our families, farmers, and ranchers.” “Ohioans shouldn’t be forced to follow California’s lead when it comes to policies that make everyday life more expensive and less convenient,” said Senator Husted. “These resolutions are part of our work to make life more affordable for working families, restore common sense, cut unnecessary red tape and put consumers back in control. I’m proud to support this effort to lower costs and protect consumer choice.” Endorsements “For over a decade, California has tried to abuse the Clean Air Act waiver process to set national policy that Congress never approved, unilaterally deciding what cars Americans can buy and what equipment they can own in their own garages. These four CRAs, led by Senators Ricketts, Husted, Schmitt, and Lummis, undo that end-run and restore a single national standard set by Congress instead of CARB regulators. We urge the full Senate to pass all four and give American consumers back the final say over the vehicles and equipment they choose. Affordability should be top-of-mind for Congress into the fall.” – Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer, Americans for Prosperity “Affordability is the number one issue for Latinos and Americans, and it should be top-of-mind issue for Congress. For years, California has leveraged the Clean Air Act waiver process to set burdensome regulations on everything from vehicles, gas-powered equipment, and other products. The four Congressional Review Act resolutions led by Senators Ricketts, Husted, Schmitt, and Lummis restore Congressional oversight of this process. And we urge the Senate to pass all four to give American consumers the flexibility they deserve when purchasing goods.” – Sandra Benitez, Executive Director, The LIBRE Initiative Background: The Clean Air Act gave California a narrow carve-out to seek EPA waivers for emissions rules stricter than federal law — a modest exception meant to address the state’s unique smog problem in the 1970s. California has since hijacked that carve-out, weaponizing its market share to force manufacturers nationwide to build to Sacramento’s rules rather than maintain separate production lines. An unelected s